Thread: Customer saved me ...

I was mowing at the very back of a property when I looked towards the street. Sure enough, someone is at the trailor helping themself to a few things. In fact, there were two at the trailor and another in a vehicle stopped next to the trailor.

I shut down the mower, pulled the key and start running towards the street. They see me and I know that they are grabbing what ever they can while I am running ... their plan looks to be to grab as much as they can before I get too close.

Just as I am coming around the house into the front yard I hear Ka-Pow! A gun shot. I first think "they are shooting at me" and I stop dead in my tracks and look at them. They are frozen, looking towards the house. I turn and see the customer with a gun pointed at them.

"Put it all back." Was the only thing he said to them.

He asked me what I wanted to do with them and I said to let them go. I didn't want the police around because I didn't want the customer to get into a bunch of trouble for shooting a warning shot into the air or threatening them with a handgun.

Believe it or not, this was the fist time I ever cut for the guy.

OK, now the questions: 1) Anything like that ever happen to you? 2) I knocked 1/2 off of the bill for this and the next cut (he saved me a LOT more) ... would you have done the same? 3) Was I wrong in letting them go? I suspect that they might try it again BUT they sure looked as though they needed to change their pants. I also got their license number and had a little "fun" with them using an axe handle I keep around.

Saw a guy rummaging around in my truck and trailor one day as I was mowing a distance from him, but never anything like this. For sure I would reward the customer as you did, he deserved it. Well, you probably should have turned them in. The customer probably is aware of the trouble he may be in for the "warning" shot, but that was your judgement call to make. Glad you are not out any equipment and you or your customer were not hurt, although it sounds like the customer never intended to get hurt, just be the "hurter".

Thats one hell of a customer! I really don't understand the mentality that people who steal things use.........you'd think they know it is morally wrong and illegal. If I ever caught someone attempting to steal any of my equipment I'd bet the living daylights outta them. Hell....maybe I should keep a pair of handcuffs in my truck and then once someone tries to jack my stuff I'll cuff em to street sign or something....................

I've heard there is a LCO in my town that steals other companies equipment. Ive never witnessed it, but I wouldnt doubt the validity of it. Afterall, the magnets on his truck say, " Perfection, Lock Smith, Security." Perfection is his LCO name, but locksmith and security?????? I guess he would know how to pop a lock.............

Does your customer have any friends in South Carolina, if so please ask him to give them my number. I hope you remember him at Christmas.

I think you did the right thing. My full time job for the past 16 years is that of a police officer (9 more until I can retire and cut grass full time) and I know that your customer would be in trouble. Warning shoots are not allowed and by law you can't use a gun unless you are protecting someone or yourself against physical harm.

That said ... I am glad for you If more people did what your customer did, I probably would not have chains and locks running through all my equipment and could save time and make more money. I bet I spend 10 or 15 minutes per job messing with the locks.

I think you were lucky and I am glad that you did not have to spend the rest of the day buying new equipment.

One of the things that makes Texas an okay state to live is deadly force is allowed to protect/prevent property loss.
I would not of mentioned the customer shooting in the air to the police, and I would of had the cops involved.
As far as the customer themselves, I wouldn't cut for free although they would have had a higher priority in the work schedule.